Tips for Dealing with Someone Who Has Allergies/Dietary Restrictions if You Don't Have Allergies Yourself

Here are a few tips for anyone dealing with individuals with allergies. From an allergic person's point of view, it is always very much appreciated! 

For additional insight into allergies and diet restrictions, also check out my other allergy posts here and here.

Tips for non-allergic people 

when dealing with someone with allergies/dietary restrictions

1) Respect the person and their situation

You are not expected to fully understand the situation they are in, and you might find it strange, but they still deserve your respect.

Tips for Dealing with Allergies and Special Events

Here are some tips for dealing with allergies and special events. Also take a look at my post about How to Deal With Allergies and Dietary Restrictions. 

What to do about allergies at kids’ birthday parties or other events

Talk to the host(ess) beforehand and explain your situation.

Ask about the food and drinks that will be served as well as any favors or candy.

How to Deal with Allergies and Dietary Restrictions 101

Dealing With Allergies and Dietary Restrictions 101

I have compiled a list of food/cooking tips for people who are challenged by allergies or other diet limitations. This list is not a guide to great substitutions or alternative dishes or ingredients. It is a list that hopefully answers the question “What now?” for anyone who has been thrown the curveball of having to make different food choices due to allergies, illnesses or for other reasons.

Even though I lack formal education on the subject I have lived with allergies my entire life. I have had family members both with allergies and sensitivities, and I now have kids with the same issues. In addition, I have been diagnosed with a chronic disease that is agitated by inflammation in the body caused by food or other external factors and I am therefore also following a so-called "low-inflammation diet". In other words, I might not be an expert on this subject based on education or work but I live this every day and I hope some of what I have learned might help you too!

1) Take a deep breath and open your eyes to the change

Feeding our family of 5 for a month for less than $185!

So I know we are well into February by now, but I still want to take a look back at January and how my food/household spending challenge worked out.

I set myself a goal of not spending more than $1/person/day on food and $1/day on other household items. This worked out to 

($1 x 5 people x 31 days) + $1 x 31 days = $186 total for the month.
**take a look at the very end if you would like some perspective on how much this is**

My original post about my belt tightening is here, and I point out that this budget includes all food, toiletries, cleaning supplies, paper goods and diapers.

I tallied up all my receipts and I came to a grand total of $184.93!! YAY! 
($25.14 on household and $159.79 on food)